Dispensing closure



March 24, 1959 J w, PUGH 2,878,977

DISPENSING CLOSURE Filed April 9, 1957 Fig./

Fig. 6

John W. Pug/I INVENTOR.

BY WWW dag a-fawiai A A 7 r United States Patent DISPENSING CLOSURE John W. Pugh, Charlottesville, Va. Application April 9, 1957, Serial No. 651,682

1 Claim. (Cl. 222-557) The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in closures for collapsible tubes, bottles, jars, etc., particularly the former and has for its primary object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a closure of this character which remains on the container at all times, thus preventing loss or misplacement while permitting the content to be dispensed as needed in a convenient, sanitary manner.

Another very important object of the invention is to provide a captive dispensing closure of the aforementioned character comprising an oscillating gate or valve of a novel construction and arrangement for controlling the discharge of the product and closing and sealing the container.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a dispensing closure of the character described which will be comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, compact, attractive in appearance and which may be manufactured at low cost.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is an enlarged perspective view of a dispensing closure embodying the present invention;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the top of the container;

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the closure, showing the gate or valve in open position;

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view, taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view in transverse section, showing the gate or valve in closed position; and

Figure 6 is a top plan view, showing several shapes and sizes of discharge openings which the closure may comprise.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, it will be seen that the embodiment of the invention which has been illustrated comprises a collapsible tube a portion of which is designated by reference numeral 7. The collapsible tube 7 includes a substantially conical upper or shoulder portion 8 from which a circular neck 9 rises. The neck 9 includes a top 10 which is traversed by a substantially X-shaped recess or groove 11. The top 10 is further provided, in one end portion of the recess 11, with a discharge slot or port 12 which extends approximately transversely in said recess. At the ends of the recess 11 the top 10 is still further provided with a pair of circumferentially extending rounded lips or flanges 13.

Mounted for oscillation in the recess 11 is a substan- 2,878,977 Patented Mar. 24, 1959 tially segmental gate or valve 14 of suitable material. The substantially segmental gate or valve 14 includes, on one end, an integral extension or handle 15. The valve 14 further includes, on its ends, downwardly and inwardly curved flanges 16 adapted to be snapped under the rounded lips 13 for securing said valve or gate on the top 10 for oscillation in the recess 11. The valve 14 also comprises a transversely elongated port 17 for registry with the slot 12. The walls of the port 17 are beveled to provide sharp cutting edges for cleanly shearing the toothpaste or other product where it emerges from the slot 12 when the gate or valve 14 is swung to closed position.

It is thought that the use or operation of the closure will be readily apparent from a consideration of the foregoing. Briefly, the flanges 16 are snapped over the retaining lips 13 for securing the gate or valve 14 in position on the top 10. With the valve or gate 14 in the position of Figures 1 and 5 of the drawing the discharge slot 12 is closed and sealed. To dispense the content of the collapsible tube or other container 7, the protruding, rounded end portions of the gate or valve 14 are engaged between the thumb and index finger of one hand while said collapsible tube 7 is held in the other hand. The gate or valve 14 is then turned counterclockwise as seen in Figures 3 and 4 of the drawing for bringing the port 17 into registry or alignment with the discharge slot 12. If desired, the slot 12 and the port 17 may be of various sizes and shapes, as indicated at 18, 19 and 20 in Figure 6 of the drawing. The construction and arrangement is such that the gate or valve 14 is positively arrested when it reaches either its fully open or closed position by the side Walls of the substantially X-shaped recess 11.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

A container comprising an upstanding circular neck including a circular top having a substantially X-shaped flat bottom recess extending thereacross with open ends and a restricted center portion and further having a dis charge opening therein communicating with the recess adjacent one end thereof, an elongated gate disposed for oscillation in the recess between the side walls thereof about an axis intermediate the ends of the gate and pivoting at the restricted portion of the recess, said gate having a port therein for registry with the discharge opening in one position of the gate, and means for securing the gate for oscillation in the recess comprising a pair of circumferentially spaced rounded lips on said top at said ends of the recess, and a pair of downwardly and inwardly curved flanges on the ends of said gate fitting over said lips and slidable along the same.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

